I think something MovieCutter didn't mention in an earlier rebuttal (I'm simply too lazy to grab the text at the moment) was the technologies being utilized for post-production in 2003 were proportionate to the workload and the capabilities of the software that was being used at the time. As software demands increased, so did the competency of the hardware.
MovieCutter is right on the money in his assertion that being able to work quicker equals faster client turnaround (although he put it more eloquently than I). As a freelancer, and one that has been lucky enough to not have a gap in my workload, this is extremely important.
Personally, I, at any given time, have four or five Photoshop documents open, some of them extremely complex with multiple layer comps, smart objects, shape layers and a hodgepodge of advanced effects; alongside that I'm running an instance of Illustrator, to reopen the vector files I've imported as smart objects into Photoshop, to make changes to those files quickly and efficiently. I often work in both PS and AI congruently, as anything that really should be done in vector, I do in vector; since I work with a lot of images I've created myself, this means I spend a lot of time between both applications.
I'm also a web developer, so I'm running a copy of Textmate, which usually has projects open from three major recurring clients whom employ me on retainer; I run an instance of Coda that I use from time to time as well, to do some of those niche things I don't, or can't, do with Textmate. Along with that, I try, as much as possible to write a most of my CSS within Compass/sass, which requires a background process to be running at all times, to monitor my workflow. I keep Cyberduck open for constant access to my FTP client and, generally speaking, I'm back and forth between running Drush commands in a Terminal visor -- as nearly a dozen of my current projects are running on Drupal -- and checking TweetDeck to stay in touch with my colleagues.
I also keep a VMWare install running at all times, so I can jump into my Windows 7 installation to check how my current project is rendering in IE-based browsers, since I still have not come to fully rely on Adobe's Browser Labs.
I also work as the technical director for a record label full time; I manage all of their websites and will edit video and create motion graphics for them when there is a need, which means I'm often adding After Effects and Premiere Pro to that mix as well.
I also need a running copy of iTunes open for a constant feed of Alice in Chains, Deftones, Tool and Sunny Day Real Estate -- and a few of the more well known contemporaries I don't like admitting listening to.
And for keeping the kids happy, a copy of PS3 media server, queuing up an endless supply of music and movies, as I use one of my MyBook Studio Edition II's as a media hub.
Have I mentioned I often do my sketching in Painter 12, my Ink work in Manga Studio, and render architectural designs in Sketchbook Pro?
There is some obvious exaggeration here, as my daily workflow is a little more organized and far less hectic. I think the message is obvious, and we've probably beaten the dead horse quite a bit: I don't want to be slowed down by my tools -- in the same way I wouldn't want to wear baseball gloves when trying to floss my teeth.
